Day 6 - Twin Barks Commission

I am so thankful and humbled that people come to me sometimes, and request that I paint them a custom painting... Getting to know the client, and working together to come up with the perfect painting is a challenge that often results in me learning about something or some place that I never knew about before!  I was recently commissioned by a gentleman from Washington DC to paint signs for his summer cottage in Mt. Gretna that bears the name "Twin Barks".  In his youth he had two dogs, a Standard black poodle and a Bouvier des flandres and they always greeted visitors, both barking... hence the name Twin Barks... He had the original signs (both quite old) that he wanted restored and painted with a more artistic flair.  With his input and through several editing renditions using different backgrounds and dog poses, I designed 2 unique signs for him. They were finally completely dry after 3 final coats of exterior polyurethane and I delivered them earlier this morning! Below is the before and after pics of one of the signs. Stay tuned to see the second sign in another of my 30 in 30 posts!  Thanks for looking!

Twin Barks, sign 1, oil on wood, 5" x 23", private collection

October Newsletter

My October Newsletter is out!  I am running a special deal on commissions this month (and into November)  If you ever thought about commissioning me to paint a pet portrait, now is a great time to do it.  Pet portraits make wonderful gifts!  Think ahead to surprise a loved one!

If you are not a subscriber, you can read my newsletter here... http://eepurl.com/GP1An

If you'd like to become a subscriber, click here... http://www.karenweberfineart.com/subscribe.html
I also always try to include tips about oil painting and information about upcoming art shows and events!
Thanks and enjoy this rainy day!

Unlikely pear, oil on canvas, 6"x6", $75.00

Reiffton Fire House and Social Quarters Commission

Well, last night was the 'unveiling' of the painting I did for the Reiffton Fire House...  It was so much fun and a huge success!  I thank everyone for their kind comments and am so happy that everyone is pleased with the results!  I enjoyed working on this commission as it used so many of my skills (not just painting).  I feel like a true painting historian!  I put my photoshop skills to use, photography, and of course painting.  Am excited to say that I got another commission to paint a historical house that has been in the Daniel Boone family!  This one will be similar in that I will have to do the same kinds of things I needed to do to complete the Reiffton painting.
 Without further ado, here it is.  Enjoy, and as always, thank you for looking!  Also, if you are in the mood for reading some more, look further below to read in detail about the painting and trucks in it... :)

Reiffton Fire House and Social Quarters 100th Anniversary Commemorative Painting,
Oil on Canvas, 18"x24", 2013

100^th Anniversary Commemorative Painting

The management and board of trustees of the Reiffton Social Quarters hired local artist Karen Weber to create a painting to help commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Reiffton Fire Company and social quarters.  The artist conceptualized the painting as a blend of old and new as it includes fire trucks that the company has owned and operated throughout the 100 years it has been in operation.  The image portrayed in the painting includes two antique fire trucks from the early 1900’s and 1951 and one contemporary fire truck which is still in operation as of 2013. 

The Reiffton Fire Company and social quarters building is also an integral part of the painting as the architecture is unique to the station.  While the building has expanded through the years to house more fire trucks and include the social quarters, the integrity of the architectural style has been maintained and its beauty has been preserved.

Prints of this painting are available through the artist.  You can contact her at www.karenweberfineart.com

This photograph is the property of a private collector and can be found by clicking here 

In 1930 a firemen's convention was held in Reading. Earl R. Anderson, a local publisher and member of the convention steering committee, photographed  many of the fire companies in Berks County. This is a picture of the Reiffton Fire Company with a pumper truck owned by the company.  The truck is circa early 1900’s.

(The picture above is from the Berks County Historical website.)

1951 Mack Pumper truck owned by the Reiffton Fire Company

In 1951, the Reiffton Fire Company purchased a new Mack Engine.  This engine served Exeter Twp. and St. Lawrence Borough for many years. The engine was sold to a collector and was returned in 2010 via flatbed truck from Texas.  The company started to refurbish the engine starting on the mechanical items. The engine went through several stages of upgrades. As of 2012, the pump maintenance was completed, pump flushed and pumped for the first time in over 20 years.  ETFD is one of the few departments able to save its history with a historical engine. 

The truck will be used in parades and other local events.  (Information gathered from /www.exetertwpfire25.com/news/archive)

New Commission - "Krystle & Kayne"

I was commissioned to paint a portrait for a young lady who will be graduating High School this June.  The love of her life is her horse, Kayne.  As a nice, commemorative present that is a bit more creative than just money, her dad and his wife asked if I could paint this picture for her.  I was so happy to do it as it brings me great satisfaction to paint a picture where the subject is so beloved.  It was also good fun to paint a double portrait of two very different subjects.  I hope this painting brings Krystle many years of happiness! 

Krystale & Kayle, 8" x 8", oil on canvas

Dog Portrait Commission

I am friends with a great lady who asked me to paint a portrait of her dogs.  Actually, it is the woman in the picture I painted of the horse a few posts back.  I started the dog portrait process by going over to her house and taking a bunch of photos of her dogs and getting the feeling for what kind of composition she was interested in as well as color scheme, etc.  For those of you who have more than one dog and have tried to get them all together to get one good picture of them... well, you know it is nearly impossible.  My friend has 3 dogs, 2 of whom are wiggly and high energy.  Point being, I got a lot of great pics of her dogs separately, some where 2 of them were looking good, but not really any with all 3 posing perfectly.  Soooooo, the composition I have come up with is a compilation of actually 5 different photographs.  One each of her 3 dogs, another that was a good background from her kitchen, and lastly one of my friend giving them treats (in an effort to get them to pose). I put a lot of thought into the composition, knowing a little about each of the dogs personalities, and also from discussing what kind of composition she was looking for.  This may not be the final painting for her, but I needed to get started on something, and was excited to do a painting that used more than one photo as a reference, which, I haven't ever done.  The 2 pics included here are what I have done so far.  I will post more pics as I get more done...

Initial drawing on canvas - 18"x20"

Under painting and beginning of Jane